Natalie Mendoza, who was injured during the first preview of Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark, is leaving the $65 million production permanently, according to the New York Times.

Natalie Mendoza and T.V. Carpio after the first preview
Photo by Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Mendoza's concussion occurred during the first preview of the musical when, standing offstage, she was hit on the head by a rope that was holding a piece of the production's equipment. Against doctor's advice, she performed Dec. 1 but was unable to do so at the Dec. 2 performance at the Foxwoods Theatre. She returned to the show Dec. 16 but then experienced vocal problems and has not been in the production since Dec. 20, the performance that received worldwide attention when Christopher Tierney, a good friend of Mendoza's, was nearly killed when he fell 30 feet toward the end of the evening.

The Times says an official announcement from the producers of the new musical is expected shortly. Spokespersons for the musical and Mendoza declined to comment to the Times on her departure. A replacement for Mendoza, who plays the role of Arachne, has also yet to be named, although the Times says her understudy, America Olivo, will likely step into the part.

The musical, which is currently in previews, will officially open Feb. 7, 2011. Spider-Man, inspired by the Marvel comic-book character that first emerged in the 1960s, had originally been announced to arrive during the 2009 season, but was postponed due to financing. In addition to Mendoza and Tierney's injuries, other recent trouble included the injury of two actors during demonstrations of the show's flying techniques: One actor broke both his wrists, while the other broke both his feet.

Reeve Carney is the front man for the LA-based rock band Carney. Zane Carney (guitar), Jon Epcar (drums) and Aiden Moore (bass), who are also featured in that band, are part of the Spider-Man orchestra.

"Drawing from more than 40 years of Marvel comic books for inspiration," Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark, according to press notes, "spins a new take on the mythic tale of Peter Parker, a teenager whose unremarkable life in Queens is turned upside-down — literally — when he's bitten by a genetically-altered spider and wakes up the next morning clinging to the ceiling. Bullied by his classmates and tortured by an unrelenting crush on next-door-neighbor Mary Jane Watson, this science geek discovers he has suddenly been endowed with astonishing powers. He soon learns, however, that with great power comes great responsibility. Maligned by the media, buffeted by financial woes, and stretched thin by the expectations of the world-at-large, Peter now must struggle to navigate the perilous and peculiar demands of being a web-slinging superhero."